Heart-Healthy Couscous with Raisins

Elevate your mealtime with this vibrant and nourishing Heart-Healthy Couscous with Raisins, a perfect balance of wholesome ingredients and bold flavors. Made with fiber-rich whole wheat couscous, sweet raisins, and a medley of aromatic spices like cumin and cinnamon, this dish is both satisfying and cardio-friendly. Packed with sautéed vegetables, fresh parsley, and a zesty hint of lemon juice, it’s cooked in low-sodium vegetable broth for a light yet flavorful base. Ready in just 30 minutes, this recipe is ideal as a quick weeknight dinner or a stunning side dish for any occasion. Plus, it’s vegan, low in sodium, and brimming with nutrients, making it a delicious and heart-smart addition to your healthy eating routine.

Nutriscore Rating: 73/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat couscous
• 1.5 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 medium carrot, diced
• 1 medium celery stalk, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 0.5 cup raisins
• 0.25 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 0.25 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, diced carrot, and diced celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.

Step 2

Add the minced garlic, ground cumin, and ground cinnamon to the vegetables. Stir and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.

Step 3

Pour in the low-sodium vegetable broth and bring the mixture to a boil.

Step 4

Once boiling, remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the whole wheat couscous and raisins. Cover the saucepan with a lid and let it sit for 5 minutes so the couscous can absorb the liquid.

Step 5

Fluff the couscous with a fork and stir in the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

Step 6

Gently fold in the fresh chopped parsley.

Step 7

Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1082.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	863.5

Total Fat 30.1g	0%
Saturated Fat 4.5g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1619.2mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 144.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 15.1g	0%
Total Sugars 65.3g
Protein 15.9g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 362.6mg	0%
Iron 8.6mg	0%
Potassium 2381.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 29.7%

Protein: 7.0%

Carbs: 63.3%